"Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want."

Month: December 2016

I love a challenge, and have been toying with the idea of cutting down on meat in my diet for some time now. So, what better way to start than by doing Veganuary?

Throughout January I will try to not eat any animal produce. For those that know me, this will be difficult. Every morning I put milk in my tea and porridge. Every week I eat pasta, eggs and cake. Every month I have steak, fried chicken or chilli beef. All this dairy and meaty food, I love!

Why would I even consider trying vegan?

Eating animal produce, as much as it is tasty, comes at a cost. In simple terms:

Animals suffer

Some animal produce can be full of saturated fat

Rearing animals produces lots of green-house-gases, pollution and uses lots of carbon and water

For these reasons, I will give Veganuary a go. Throughout the month I will post recipes and provide an update on how I am coping. If you are also doing Veganuary, or are vegan, please share any tips you have. I fear I will need all the help I can get!

In the meantime, I will be eating as much pork, beef, turkey, pigs in blankets, and smoked salmon as possible over Christmas to get the craving out of my system.

Swedish Stockings was one of the first clothing brands I discovered when I began researching how to ‘consume consciously‘, and their tights are now a staple part of my weekend and work wardrobe.

Each year two billion pairs of tights are produced, worn and then chucked away. I myself was guilty of this. Being quite clumsy I was always laddering my tights and popping them straight in the bin, as lets be honest nobody wants to look like Effy off Skins anymore…

Luckily the Swedish brand have found an innovative solution to this problem.

Their quality tights are manufactured from recycled yarn, in zero waste factories that use environmentally friendly dye and solar power.

Also, not only do they provide a sustainable product, they put to good use your old tights, leaving space in your drawers for nice new ones. Once you have finished with your tights, of any brand, simply send them to their recycling centre. To top it off, when they receive your tights they send you over a discount code to use on your next Swedish purchase.

From what I can see they are not yet stocked anywhere in the UK, but if you do find them stocked locally please let me know. Swedish Stockings was a great first introduction for me into the world of ethical, clean, sustainable clothing. I hope this post has done the same for you.

Living in a small flat is difficult to decorate. So for it to feel festive I have hand picked some small pieces to dot around the living room.

Woodwick candle and local florist wreath.

Fairtrade nativity made in Bangladesh.

As a rule I do not send Christmas cards. I would rather give money to charity than send dozens of cards to friends and family. However I do send a couple to my older relatives that I won’t get to see over Christmas.

CAFOD Christmas cards.

The majority of gifts I give are an ‘experience’ rather than tangible items. For instance this year my sister (Fiona) and I have booked a trip to Warsaw in January and tomorrow I am taking my parents to the Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Birmingham. But the few gifts I have bought are all wrapped and ready to hand over.

All wrapped up!

This December there have been several ‘late night shopping’ evenings in Ashby and Melbourne filled with free booze and mince pies, where local traders have opened their doors to showcase their goods. This is where I found my House of Habit treasure.

Monthlies are a social enterprise that pride themselves on making periods more safe and healthy. On the site you subscribe to a personalised box that will be delivered through your postbox every month before your period. In your box you can pick how many items you want including a mixture of tampons, pads and liners. These items are all organic and plastic, chlorine and animal testing free. For every box you purchase, 20% of the profits will go to support women and girls in the UK and abroad.

Over this Christmas period Monthlies have also provided a chance for you to donate a pack. For just £5 Monthlies will send a box of 20 items to women in the UK that need help.

I have to say, I love my Monthlies boxes. In the past I’ve often forgotten to pick up the ‘time of the month’ essentials in my weekly shop and have been caught out. Having a Monthlies subscription means this will never have to happen again. With all the good they do, I really wish them success. Thanks Sarah.